A major goal of the Climate Science Center network is to conduct science and develop timely science products and tools that are directly relevant and useful to decision-makers and natural resource managers. A crucial first step in producing this actionable science is understanding the highest priority science and information needs of natural resource managers and planners. Through this project, the Southwest Climate Science Center will conduct a structured rapid assessment to identify and understand manager needs and priorities in the Southwest region. The project team will also work directly with managers and stakeholders to assess their perceptions regarding the co-production of science and preferences on science-practitioner [...]
Summary
A major goal of the Climate Science Center network is to conduct science and develop timely science products and tools that are directly relevant and useful to decision-makers and natural resource managers. A crucial first step in producing this actionable science is understanding the highest priority science and information needs of natural resource managers and planners.
Through this project, the Southwest Climate Science Center will conduct a structured rapid assessment to identify and understand manager needs and priorities in the Southwest region. The project team will also work directly with managers and stakeholders to assess their perceptions regarding the co-production of science and preferences on science-practitioner partnerships, communication and engagement. The team will also assess the need for training and extension work that would enable managers to better use science products. Components of the assessment include listening sessions, one-on-one interviews, a survey, and focus groups.
The process of conducting this needs assessment, as well as the information gathered, will enable the Southwest CSC to foster stronger relationships with key managers in the region and to become more responsive to the real-world needs of decision makers. In addition to a synthesis report summarizing the findings, the project team will also develop a guidebook documenting a repeatable process for assessing stakeholder needs and will hold webinars with stakeholders to convey the results.
Click on title to download individual files attached to this item.
SunsetLandscape_NV_BobWick_BLM.jpg “Nevada - Credit: Bob Wick, BLM”
1.16 MB
image/jpeg
Purpose
The Southwest Climate Science Center (SW CSC) aims to work in partnership with natural resource management communities, to understand and help meet their highest priority science information and product needs regarding climate and land changes. The recently completed Five-Year External Review of the SW CSC noted that the SW CSC could continue to improve its ability to deliver effective actionable science. The first step in this process is to assess stakeholder science needs and priorities more regularly and systematically, engaging with regional stakeholders more closely and effectively, garnering feedback and input from the Stakeholder Advisory Committee—to clearly articulate management priorities that inform the SW CSC’s science portfolio, fostering stronger relationships with stakeholders, and working more closely with stakeholders on communication and training in how to make use of SW CSC science to inform decisions.
This project aims to conduct a structured rapid assessment of stakeholder science needs and priorities, perceptions regarding effective co-production of science, preferences on communication and engagement to improve the effectiveness of science-practitioner partnerships, and needs for training and extension to enhance the use of science information and products. The project team will use mixed social science methods to garner data for the assessment. Group listening sessions and one-on-one interviews will provide preliminary information on needs, and will inform the structure and content of a survey instrument. The online survey will garner a substantial amount of data, to refine understanding of science priorities, and learn about communication preferences. Focus groups will examine preferred modes of engagement to increase the effectiveness of science co-production and SW CSC-stakeholder partnerships. Project outputs will include: a synthesis report, with recommendations for stakeholder engagement process and science priorities; a guidebook documenting a repeatable and robust process for assessing stakeholder needs; and webinars to convey findings to stakeholder participants in the project. Projected outcomes include: increased understanding of SWCSC stakeholder science needs; enhanced capacity for the SWCSC to conduct future needs assessments; a foundation of relationships to seed a knowledge and learning network—with the goal of improving climate and land change information flows and increasing the use of scientific information to inform resource management decisions.
Project Extension
parts
type
Technical Summary
value
The Southwest Climate Science Center (SW CSC) aims to work in partnership with natural resource management communities, to understand and help meet their highest priority science information and product needs regarding climate and land changes. The recently completed Five-Year External Review of the SW CSC noted that the SW CSC could continue to improve its ability to deliver effective actionable science. The first step in this process is assess stakeholder science needs and priorities more regularly and systematically, engaging with regional stakeholders more closely and effectively, garnering feedback and input from the Stakeholder Advisory Committee—to clearly articulate management priorities that inform the SW CSC’s science portfolio, fostering stronger relationships with stakeholders, and working more closely with stakeholders on communication and training in how to make use of SW CSC science to inform decisions. This project aims to conduct a structured rapid assessment of stakeholder science needs and priorities, perceptions regarding effective co-production of science, preferences on communication and engagement to improve the effectiveness of science-practitioner partnerships, and needs for training and extension to enhance the use of science information and products. The project team will use mixed social science methods to garner data for the assessment. Group listening sessions and one-on-one interviews will provide preliminary information on needs, and will inform the structure and content of a survey instrument. The online survey will garner a substantial amount of data, to refine understanding of science priorities, and learn about communication preferences. Focus groups will examine preferred modes of engagement to increase the effectiveness of science co-production and SW CSC-stakeholder partnerships. Project outputs will include: a synthesis report, with recommendations for stakeholder engagement process and science priorities; a guidebook documenting a repeatable and robust process for assessing stakeholder needs; and webinars to convey findings to stakeholder participants in the project. Projected outcomes include: increased understanding of SWCSC stakeholder science needs; enhanced capacity for the SWCSC to conduct future needs assessments; a foundation of relationships to seed a knowledge and learning network—with the goal of improving climate and land change information flows and increasing the use of scientific information to inform resource management decisions.